Force besu to stop on plugin initialization errors (#7662)

Signed-off-by: Gabriel-Trintinalia <gabriel.trintinalia@consensys.net>
2026-01-09 21:17:54 -05:00 · 2024-09-24 20:50:19 +10:00
parent 2aa3848950
commit e0518c6d94
11 changed files with 424 additions and 99 deletions
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 - k8s (KUBERNETES) Nat method is now deprecated and will be removed in a future release

 ### Breaking Changes
+- Besu will now fail to start if any plugins encounter errors during initialization. To allow Besu to continue running despite plugin errors, use the `--plugin-continue-on-error` option. [#7662](https://github.com/hyperledger/besu/pull/7662)

 ### Additions and Improvements
 - Remove privacy test classes support [#7569](https://github.com/hyperledger/besu/pull/7569)
--- a/acceptance-tests/dsl/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/tests/acceptance/dsl/node/ThreadBesuNodeRunner.java
+++ b/acceptance-tests/dsl/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/tests/acceptance/dsl/node/ThreadBesuNodeRunner.java
@@ -503,8 +503,9 @@ public class ThreadBesuNodeRunner implements BesuNodeRunner {
      besuPluginContext.addService(PermissioningService.class, permissioningService);
      besuPluginContext.addService(PrivacyPluginService.class, new PrivacyPluginServiceImpl());

-      besuPluginContext.registerPlugins(
+      besuPluginContext.initialize(
          new PluginConfiguration.Builder().pluginsDir(pluginsPath).build());
+      besuPluginContext.registerPlugins();
      commandLine.parseArgs(extraCLIOptions.toArray(new String[0]));

      // register built-in plugins
--- a/acceptance-tests/test-plugins/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/tests/acceptance/plugins/TestPicoCLIPlugin.java
+++ b/acceptance-tests/test-plugins/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/tests/acceptance/plugins/TestPicoCLIPlugin.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * Copyright ConsenSys AG.
+ * Copyright contributors to Hyperledger Besu.
 *
 * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may not use this file except in compliance with
 * the License. You may obtain a copy of the License at
@@ -32,16 +32,25 @@ import picocli.CommandLine.Option;
 public class TestPicoCLIPlugin implements BesuPlugin {
  private static final Logger LOG = LoggerFactory.getLogger(TestPicoCLIPlugin.class);

+  private static final String UNSET = "UNSET";
+  private static final String FAIL_REGISTER = "FAILREGISTER";
+  private static final String FAIL_BEFORE_EXTERNAL_SERVICES = "FAILBEFOREEXTERNALSERVICES";
+  private static final String FAIL_START = "FAILSTART";
+  private static final String FAIL_AFTER_EXTERNAL_SERVICE_POST_MAIN_LOOP =
+      "FAILAFTEREXTERNALSERVICEPOSTMAINLOOP";
+  private static final String FAIL_STOP = "FAILSTOP";
+  private static final String PLUGIN_LIFECYCLE_PREFIX = "pluginLifecycle.";
+
  @Option(
      names = {"--Xplugin-test-option"},
      hidden = true,
-      defaultValue = "UNSET")
+      defaultValue = UNSET)
  String testOption = System.getProperty("testPicoCLIPlugin.testOption");

  @Option(
      names = {"--plugin-test-stable-option"},
      hidden = true,
-      defaultValue = "UNSET")
+      defaultValue = UNSET)
  String stableOption = "";

  private String state = "uninited";
@@ -52,7 +61,7 @@ public class TestPicoCLIPlugin implements BesuPlugin {
    LOG.info("Registering.  Test Option is '{}'", testOption);
    state = "registering";

-    if ("FAILREGISTER".equals(testOption)) {
+    if (FAIL_REGISTER.equals(testOption)) {
      state = "failregister";
      throw new RuntimeException("I was told to fail at registration");
    }
@@ -66,12 +75,26 @@ public class TestPicoCLIPlugin implements BesuPlugin {
    state = "registered";
  }

+  @Override
+  public void beforeExternalServices() {
+    LOG.info("Before external services. Test Option is '{}'", testOption);
+    state = "beforeExternalServices";
+
+    if (FAIL_BEFORE_EXTERNAL_SERVICES.equals(testOption)) {
+      state = "failbeforeExternalServices";
+      throw new RuntimeException("I was told to fail before external services");
+    }
+
+    writeSignal("beforeExternalServices");
+    state = "beforeExternalServicesFinished";
+  }
+
  @Override
  public void start() {
    LOG.info("Starting.  Test Option is '{}'", testOption);
    state = "starting";

-    if ("FAILSTART".equals(testOption)) {
+    if (FAIL_START.equals(testOption)) {
      state = "failstart";
      throw new RuntimeException("I was told to fail at startup");
    }
@@ -80,12 +103,26 @@ public class TestPicoCLIPlugin implements BesuPlugin {
    state = "started";
  }

+  @Override
+  public void afterExternalServicePostMainLoop() {
+    LOG.info("After external services post main loop. Test Option is '{}'", testOption);
+    state = "afterExternalServicePostMainLoop";
+
+    if (FAIL_AFTER_EXTERNAL_SERVICE_POST_MAIN_LOOP.equals(testOption)) {
+      state = "failafterExternalServicePostMainLoop";
+      throw new RuntimeException("I was told to fail after external services post main loop");
+    }
+
+    writeSignal("afterExternalServicePostMainLoop");
+    state = "afterExternalServicePostMainLoopFinished";
+  }
+
  @Override
  public void stop() {
    LOG.info("Stopping.  Test Option is '{}'", testOption);
    state = "stopping";

-    if ("FAILSTOP".equals(testOption)) {
+    if (FAIL_STOP.equals(testOption)) {
      state = "failstop";
      throw new RuntimeException("I was told to fail at stop");
    }
@@ -103,7 +140,7 @@ public class TestPicoCLIPlugin implements BesuPlugin {
  @SuppressWarnings("ResultOfMethodCallIgnored")
  private void writeSignal(final String signal) {
    try {
-      final File callbackFile = new File(callbackDir, "pluginLifecycle." + signal);
+      final File callbackFile = new File(callbackDir, PLUGIN_LIFECYCLE_PREFIX + signal);
      if (!callbackFile.getParentFile().exists()) {
        callbackFile.getParentFile().mkdirs();
        callbackFile.getParentFile().deleteOnExit();
--- a/acceptance-tests/test-plugins/src/test/java/org/hyperledger/besu/services/BesuPluginContextImplTest.java
+++ b/acceptance-tests/test-plugins/src/test/java/org/hyperledger/besu/services/BesuPluginContextImplTest.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * Copyright ConsenSys AG.
+ * Copyright contributors to Hyperledger Besu.
 *
 * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may not use this file except in compliance with
 * the License. You may obtain a copy of the License at
@@ -40,8 +40,31 @@ import org.junit.jupiter.api.Test;

 public class BesuPluginContextImplTest {
  private static final Path DEFAULT_PLUGIN_DIRECTORY = Paths.get(".");
+  private static final String TEST_PICO_CLI_PLUGIN = "TestPicoCLIPlugin";
+  private static final String TEST_PICO_CLI_PLUGIN_TEST_OPTION = "testPicoCLIPlugin.testOption";
+  private static final String FAIL_REGISTER = "FAILREGISTER";
+  private static final String FAIL_START = "FAILSTART";
+  private static final String FAIL_STOP = "FAILSTOP";
+  private static final String FAIL_BEFORE_EXTERNAL_SERVICES = "FAILBEFOREEXTERNALSERVICES";
+  private static final String FAIL_BEFORE_MAIN_LOOP = "FAILBEFOREMAINLOOP";
+  private static final String FAIL_AFTER_EXTERNAL_SERVICE_POST_MAIN_LOOP =
+      "FAILAFTEREXTERNALSERVICEPOSTMAINLOOP";
+  private static final String NON_EXISTENT_PLUGIN = "NonExistentPlugin";
+  private static final String REGISTERED = "registered";
+  private static final String STARTED = "started";
+  private static final String STOPPED = "stopped";
+  private static final String FAIL_START_STATE = "failstart";
+  private static final String FAIL_STOP_STATE = "failstop";
+
  private BesuPluginContextImpl contextImpl;

+  private static final PluginConfiguration DEFAULT_CONFIGURATION =
+      PluginConfiguration.builder()
+          .pluginsDir(DEFAULT_PLUGIN_DIRECTORY)
+          .externalPluginsEnabled(true)
+          .continueOnPluginError(true)
+          .build();
+
  @BeforeAll
  public static void createFakePluginDir() throws IOException {
    if (System.getProperty("besu.plugins.dir") == null) {
@@ -53,7 +76,7 @@ public class BesuPluginContextImplTest {

  @AfterEach
  public void clearTestPluginState() {
-    System.clearProperty("testPicoCLIPlugin.testOption");
+    System.clearProperty(TEST_PICO_CLI_PLUGIN_TEST_OPTION);
  }

  @BeforeEach
@@ -64,31 +87,31 @@ public class BesuPluginContextImplTest {
  @Test
  public void verifyEverythingGoesSmoothly() {
    assertThat(contextImpl.getRegisteredPlugins()).isEmpty();
-    contextImpl.registerPlugins(
-        PluginConfiguration.builder().pluginsDir(DEFAULT_PLUGIN_DIRECTORY).build());
+    contextImpl.initialize(DEFAULT_CONFIGURATION);
+    contextImpl.registerPlugins();
    assertThat(contextImpl.getRegisteredPlugins()).isNotEmpty();

    final Optional<TestPicoCLIPlugin> testPluginOptional =
        findTestPlugin(contextImpl.getRegisteredPlugins(), TestPicoCLIPlugin.class);
    assertThat(testPluginOptional).isPresent();
    final TestPicoCLIPlugin testPicoCLIPlugin = testPluginOptional.get();
-    assertThat(testPicoCLIPlugin.getState()).isEqualTo("registered");
+    assertThat(testPicoCLIPlugin.getState()).isEqualTo(REGISTERED);

    contextImpl.beforeExternalServices();
    contextImpl.startPlugins();
-    assertThat(testPicoCLIPlugin.getState()).isEqualTo("started");
+    assertThat(testPicoCLIPlugin.getState()).isEqualTo(STARTED);

    contextImpl.stopPlugins();
-    assertThat(testPicoCLIPlugin.getState()).isEqualTo("stopped");
+    assertThat(testPicoCLIPlugin.getState()).isEqualTo(STOPPED);
  }

  @Test
  public void registrationErrorsHandledSmoothly() {
-    System.setProperty("testPicoCLIPlugin.testOption", "FAILREGISTER");
+    System.setProperty(TEST_PICO_CLI_PLUGIN_TEST_OPTION, FAIL_REGISTER);

    assertThat(contextImpl.getRegisteredPlugins()).isEmpty();
-    contextImpl.registerPlugins(
-        PluginConfiguration.builder().pluginsDir(DEFAULT_PLUGIN_DIRECTORY).build());
+    contextImpl.initialize(DEFAULT_CONFIGURATION);
+    contextImpl.registerPlugins();
    assertThat(contextImpl.getRegisteredPlugins()).isNotInstanceOfAny(TestPicoCLIPlugin.class);

    contextImpl.beforeExternalServices();
@@ -103,11 +126,11 @@ public class BesuPluginContextImplTest {

  @Test
  public void startErrorsHandledSmoothly() {
-    System.setProperty("testPicoCLIPlugin.testOption", "FAILSTART");
+    System.setProperty(TEST_PICO_CLI_PLUGIN_TEST_OPTION, FAIL_START);

    assertThat(contextImpl.getRegisteredPlugins()).isEmpty();
-    contextImpl.registerPlugins(
-        PluginConfiguration.builder().pluginsDir(DEFAULT_PLUGIN_DIRECTORY).build());
+    contextImpl.initialize(DEFAULT_CONFIGURATION);
+    contextImpl.registerPlugins();
    assertThat(contextImpl.getRegisteredPlugins())
        .extracting("class")
        .contains(TestPicoCLIPlugin.class);
@@ -116,11 +139,11 @@ public class BesuPluginContextImplTest {
        findTestPlugin(contextImpl.getRegisteredPlugins(), TestPicoCLIPlugin.class);
    assertThat(testPluginOptional).isPresent();
    final TestPicoCLIPlugin testPicoCLIPlugin = testPluginOptional.get();
-    assertThat(testPicoCLIPlugin.getState()).isEqualTo("registered");
+    assertThat(testPicoCLIPlugin.getState()).isEqualTo(REGISTERED);

    contextImpl.beforeExternalServices();
    contextImpl.startPlugins();
-    assertThat(testPicoCLIPlugin.getState()).isEqualTo("failstart");
+    assertThat(testPicoCLIPlugin.getState()).isEqualTo(FAIL_START_STATE);
    assertThat(contextImpl.getRegisteredPlugins()).isNotInstanceOfAny(TestPicoCLIPlugin.class);

    contextImpl.stopPlugins();
@@ -129,11 +152,11 @@ public class BesuPluginContextImplTest {

  @Test
  public void stopErrorsHandledSmoothly() {
-    System.setProperty("testPicoCLIPlugin.testOption", "FAILSTOP");
+    System.setProperty(TEST_PICO_CLI_PLUGIN_TEST_OPTION, FAIL_STOP);

    assertThat(contextImpl.getRegisteredPlugins()).isEmpty();
-    contextImpl.registerPlugins(
-        PluginConfiguration.builder().pluginsDir(DEFAULT_PLUGIN_DIRECTORY).build());
+    contextImpl.initialize(DEFAULT_CONFIGURATION);
+    contextImpl.registerPlugins();
    assertThat(contextImpl.getRegisteredPlugins())
        .extracting("class")
        .contains(TestPicoCLIPlugin.class);
@@ -142,22 +165,20 @@ public class BesuPluginContextImplTest {
        findTestPlugin(contextImpl.getRegisteredPlugins(), TestPicoCLIPlugin.class);
    assertThat(testPluginOptional).isPresent();
    final TestPicoCLIPlugin testPicoCLIPlugin = testPluginOptional.get();
-    assertThat(testPicoCLIPlugin.getState()).isEqualTo("registered");
+    assertThat(testPicoCLIPlugin.getState()).isEqualTo(REGISTERED);

    contextImpl.beforeExternalServices();
    contextImpl.startPlugins();
-    assertThat(testPicoCLIPlugin.getState()).isEqualTo("started");
+    assertThat(testPicoCLIPlugin.getState()).isEqualTo(STARTED);

    contextImpl.stopPlugins();
-    assertThat(testPicoCLIPlugin.getState()).isEqualTo("failstop");
+    assertThat(testPicoCLIPlugin.getState()).isEqualTo(FAIL_STOP_STATE);
  }

  @Test
  public void lifecycleExceptions() throws Throwable {
-    final ThrowableAssert.ThrowingCallable registerPlugins =
-        () ->
-            contextImpl.registerPlugins(
-                PluginConfiguration.builder().pluginsDir(DEFAULT_PLUGIN_DIRECTORY).build());
+    contextImpl.initialize(DEFAULT_CONFIGURATION);
+    final ThrowableAssert.ThrowingCallable registerPlugins = () -> contextImpl.registerPlugins();

    assertThatExceptionOfType(IllegalStateException.class).isThrownBy(contextImpl::startPlugins);
    assertThatExceptionOfType(IllegalStateException.class).isThrownBy(contextImpl::stopPlugins);
@@ -179,30 +200,27 @@ public class BesuPluginContextImplTest {

  @Test
  public void shouldRegisterAllPluginsWhenNoPluginsOption() {
-    final PluginConfiguration config =
-        PluginConfiguration.builder().pluginsDir(DEFAULT_PLUGIN_DIRECTORY).build();
-
    assertThat(contextImpl.getRegisteredPlugins()).isEmpty();
-    contextImpl.registerPlugins(config);
+    contextImpl.initialize(DEFAULT_CONFIGURATION);
+    contextImpl.registerPlugins();
    final Optional<TestPicoCLIPlugin> testPluginOptional =
        findTestPlugin(contextImpl.getRegisteredPlugins(), TestPicoCLIPlugin.class);
    assertThat(testPluginOptional).isPresent();
    final TestPicoCLIPlugin testPicoCLIPlugin = testPluginOptional.get();
-    assertThat(testPicoCLIPlugin.getState()).isEqualTo("registered");
+    assertThat(testPicoCLIPlugin.getState()).isEqualTo(REGISTERED);
  }

  @Test
  public void shouldRegisterOnlySpecifiedPluginWhenPluginsOptionIsSet() {
-    final PluginConfiguration config = createConfigurationForSpecificPlugin("TestPicoCLIPlugin");
-
    assertThat(contextImpl.getRegisteredPlugins()).isEmpty();
-    contextImpl.registerPlugins(config);
+    contextImpl.initialize(createConfigurationForSpecificPlugin(TEST_PICO_CLI_PLUGIN));
+    contextImpl.registerPlugins();

    final Optional<TestPicoCLIPlugin> requestedPlugin =
        findTestPlugin(contextImpl.getRegisteredPlugins(), TestPicoCLIPlugin.class);

    assertThat(requestedPlugin).isPresent();
-    assertThat(requestedPlugin.get().getState()).isEqualTo("registered");
+    assertThat(requestedPlugin.get().getState()).isEqualTo(REGISTERED);

    final Optional<TestPicoCLIPlugin> nonRequestedPlugin =
        findTestPlugin(contextImpl.getRegisteredPlugins(), TestBesuEventsPlugin.class);
@@ -212,9 +230,9 @@ public class BesuPluginContextImplTest {

  @Test
  public void shouldNotRegisterUnspecifiedPluginsWhenPluginsOptionIsSet() {
-    final PluginConfiguration config = createConfigurationForSpecificPlugin("TestPicoCLIPlugin");
    assertThat(contextImpl.getRegisteredPlugins()).isEmpty();
-    contextImpl.registerPlugins(config);
+    contextImpl.initialize(createConfigurationForSpecificPlugin(TEST_PICO_CLI_PLUGIN));
+    contextImpl.registerPlugins();

    final Optional<TestPicoCLIPlugin> nonRequestedPlugin =
        findTestPlugin(contextImpl.getRegisteredPlugins(), TestBesuEventsPlugin.class);
@@ -223,13 +241,12 @@ public class BesuPluginContextImplTest {

  @Test
  void shouldThrowExceptionIfExplicitlySpecifiedPluginNotFound() {
-    PluginConfiguration config = createConfigurationForSpecificPlugin("NonExistentPlugin");
-
+    contextImpl.initialize(createConfigurationForSpecificPlugin(NON_EXISTENT_PLUGIN));
    String exceptionMessage =
-        assertThrows(NoSuchElementException.class, () -> contextImpl.registerPlugins(config))
+        assertThrows(NoSuchElementException.class, () -> contextImpl.registerPlugins())
            .getMessage();
    final String expectedMessage =
-        "The following requested plugins were not found: NonExistentPlugin";
+        "The following requested plugins were not found: " + NON_EXISTENT_PLUGIN;
    assertThat(exceptionMessage).isEqualTo(expectedMessage);
    assertThat(contextImpl.getRegisteredPlugins()).isEmpty();
  }
@@ -241,19 +258,180 @@ public class BesuPluginContextImplTest {
            .pluginsDir(DEFAULT_PLUGIN_DIRECTORY)
            .externalPluginsEnabled(false)
            .build();
-    contextImpl.registerPlugins(config);
+    contextImpl.initialize(config);
+    contextImpl.registerPlugins();
    assertThat(contextImpl.getRegisteredPlugins().isEmpty()).isTrue();
  }

  @Test
  void shouldRegisterPluginsIfExternalPluginsEnabled() {
+    contextImpl.initialize(DEFAULT_CONFIGURATION);
+    contextImpl.registerPlugins();
+    assertThat(contextImpl.getRegisteredPlugins().isEmpty()).isFalse();
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  void shouldHaltOnRegisterErrorWhenFlagIsFalse() {
+    System.setProperty(TEST_PICO_CLI_PLUGIN_TEST_OPTION, FAIL_REGISTER);
+
+    PluginConfiguration config =
+        PluginConfiguration.builder()
+            .requestedPlugins(List.of(new PluginInfo(TEST_PICO_CLI_PLUGIN)))
+            .pluginsDir(DEFAULT_PLUGIN_DIRECTORY)
+            .continueOnPluginError(false)
+            .build();
+
+    contextImpl.initialize(config);
+
+    String errorMessage =
+        String.format("Error registering plugin of type %s", TestPicoCLIPlugin.class.getName());
+    assertThatExceptionOfType(RuntimeException.class)
+        .isThrownBy(() -> contextImpl.registerPlugins())
+        .withMessageContaining(errorMessage);
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  void shouldNotHaltOnRegisterErrorWhenFlagIsTrue() {
+    System.setProperty(TEST_PICO_CLI_PLUGIN_TEST_OPTION, FAIL_REGISTER);
+
    PluginConfiguration config =
        PluginConfiguration.builder()
            .pluginsDir(DEFAULT_PLUGIN_DIRECTORY)
-            .externalPluginsEnabled(true)
+            .continueOnPluginError(true)
            .build();
-    contextImpl.registerPlugins(config);
-    assertThat(contextImpl.getRegisteredPlugins().isEmpty()).isFalse();
+
+    contextImpl.initialize(config);
+    contextImpl.registerPlugins();
+    assertThat(contextImpl.getRegisteredPlugins()).isNotInstanceOfAny(TestPicoCLIPlugin.class);
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  void shouldHaltOnBeforeExternalServicesErrorWhenFlagIsFalse() {
+    System.setProperty(TEST_PICO_CLI_PLUGIN_TEST_OPTION, FAIL_BEFORE_EXTERNAL_SERVICES);
+
+    PluginConfiguration config =
+        PluginConfiguration.builder()
+            .requestedPlugins(List.of(new PluginInfo(TEST_PICO_CLI_PLUGIN)))
+            .pluginsDir(DEFAULT_PLUGIN_DIRECTORY)
+            .continueOnPluginError(false)
+            .build();
+
+    contextImpl.initialize(config);
+    contextImpl.registerPlugins();
+
+    String errorMessage =
+        String.format(
+            "Error calling `beforeExternalServices` on plugin of type %s",
+            TestPicoCLIPlugin.class.getName());
+    assertThatExceptionOfType(RuntimeException.class)
+        .isThrownBy(() -> contextImpl.beforeExternalServices())
+        .withMessageContaining(errorMessage);
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  void shouldNotHaltOnBeforeExternalServicesErrorWhenFlagIsTrue() {
+    System.setProperty(TEST_PICO_CLI_PLUGIN_TEST_OPTION, FAIL_BEFORE_EXTERNAL_SERVICES);
+
+    PluginConfiguration config =
+        PluginConfiguration.builder()
+            .requestedPlugins(List.of(new PluginInfo(TEST_PICO_CLI_PLUGIN)))
+            .pluginsDir(DEFAULT_PLUGIN_DIRECTORY)
+            .continueOnPluginError(true)
+            .build();
+
+    contextImpl.initialize(config);
+    contextImpl.registerPlugins();
+    contextImpl.beforeExternalServices();
+
+    assertThat(contextImpl.getRegisteredPlugins()).isNotInstanceOfAny(TestPicoCLIPlugin.class);
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  void shouldHaltOnBeforeMainLoopErrorWhenFlagIsFalse() {
+    System.setProperty(TEST_PICO_CLI_PLUGIN_TEST_OPTION, FAIL_START);
+
+    PluginConfiguration config =
+        PluginConfiguration.builder()
+            .requestedPlugins(List.of(new PluginInfo(TEST_PICO_CLI_PLUGIN)))
+            .pluginsDir(DEFAULT_PLUGIN_DIRECTORY)
+            .continueOnPluginError(false)
+            .build();
+
+    contextImpl.initialize(config);
+    contextImpl.registerPlugins();
+    contextImpl.beforeExternalServices();
+
+    String errorMessage =
+        String.format("Error starting plugin of type %s", TestPicoCLIPlugin.class.getName());
+    assertThatExceptionOfType(RuntimeException.class)
+        .isThrownBy(() -> contextImpl.startPlugins())
+        .withMessageContaining(errorMessage);
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  void shouldNotHaltOnBeforeMainLoopErrorWhenFlagIsTrue() {
+    System.setProperty(TEST_PICO_CLI_PLUGIN_TEST_OPTION, FAIL_BEFORE_MAIN_LOOP);
+
+    PluginConfiguration config =
+        PluginConfiguration.builder()
+            .requestedPlugins(List.of(new PluginInfo(TEST_PICO_CLI_PLUGIN)))
+            .pluginsDir(DEFAULT_PLUGIN_DIRECTORY)
+            .continueOnPluginError(true)
+            .build();
+
+    contextImpl.initialize(config);
+    contextImpl.registerPlugins();
+    contextImpl.beforeExternalServices();
+    contextImpl.startPlugins();
+
+    assertThat(contextImpl.getRegisteredPlugins()).isNotInstanceOfAny(TestPicoCLIPlugin.class);
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  void shouldHaltOnAfterExternalServicePostMainLoopErrorWhenFlagIsFalse() {
+    System.setProperty(
+        TEST_PICO_CLI_PLUGIN_TEST_OPTION, FAIL_AFTER_EXTERNAL_SERVICE_POST_MAIN_LOOP);
+
+    PluginConfiguration config =
+        PluginConfiguration.builder()
+            .requestedPlugins(List.of(new PluginInfo(TEST_PICO_CLI_PLUGIN)))
+            .pluginsDir(DEFAULT_PLUGIN_DIRECTORY)
+            .continueOnPluginError(false)
+            .build();
+
+    contextImpl.initialize(config);
+    contextImpl.registerPlugins();
+    contextImpl.beforeExternalServices();
+    contextImpl.startPlugins();
+
+    String errorMessage =
+        String.format(
+            "Error calling `afterExternalServicePostMainLoop` on plugin of type %s",
+            TestPicoCLIPlugin.class.getName());
+    assertThatExceptionOfType(RuntimeException.class)
+        .isThrownBy(() -> contextImpl.afterExternalServicesMainLoop())
+        .withMessageContaining(errorMessage);
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  void shouldNotHaltOnAfterExternalServicePostMainLoopErrorWhenFlagIsTrue() {
+    System.setProperty(
+        TEST_PICO_CLI_PLUGIN_TEST_OPTION, FAIL_AFTER_EXTERNAL_SERVICE_POST_MAIN_LOOP);
+
+    PluginConfiguration config =
+        PluginConfiguration.builder()
+            .requestedPlugins(List.of(new PluginInfo(TEST_PICO_CLI_PLUGIN)))
+            .pluginsDir(DEFAULT_PLUGIN_DIRECTORY)
+            .continueOnPluginError(true)
+            .build();
+
+    contextImpl.initialize(config);
+    contextImpl.registerPlugins();
+    contextImpl.beforeExternalServices();
+    contextImpl.startPlugins();
+    contextImpl.afterExternalServicesMainLoop();
+
+    assertThat(contextImpl.getRegisteredPlugins()).isNotInstanceOfAny(TestPicoCLIPlugin.class);
  }

  private PluginConfiguration createConfigurationForSpecificPlugin(final String pluginName) {
--- a/besu/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/cli/BesuCommand.java
+++ b/besu/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/cli/BesuCommand.java
@@ -118,7 +118,6 @@ import org.hyperledger.besu.ethereum.core.MiningParameters;
 import org.hyperledger.besu.ethereum.core.MiningParametersMetrics;
 import org.hyperledger.besu.ethereum.core.PrivacyParameters;
 import org.hyperledger.besu.ethereum.core.VersionMetadata;
-import org.hyperledger.besu.ethereum.core.plugins.PluginConfiguration;
 import org.hyperledger.besu.ethereum.eth.sync.SyncMode;
 import org.hyperledger.besu.ethereum.eth.sync.SynchronizerConfiguration;
 import org.hyperledger.besu.ethereum.eth.transactions.ImmutableTransactionPoolConfiguration;
@@ -1080,9 +1079,8 @@ public class BesuCommand implements DefaultCommandValues, Runnable {

  private IExecutionStrategy createPluginRegistrationTask(final IExecutionStrategy nextStep) {
    return parseResult -> {
-      PluginConfiguration configuration =
-          PluginsConfigurationOptions.fromCommandLine(parseResult.commandSpec().commandLine());
-      besuPluginContext.registerPlugins(configuration);
+      besuPluginContext.initialize(PluginsConfigurationOptions.fromCommandLine(commandLine));
+      besuPluginContext.registerPlugins();
      commandLine.setExecutionStrategy(nextStep);
      return commandLine.execute(parseResult.originalArgs().toArray(new String[0]));
    };
--- a/besu/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/cli/DefaultCommandValues.java
+++ b/besu/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/cli/DefaultCommandValues.java
@@ -128,6 +128,9 @@ public interface DefaultCommandValues {
  /** The constant DEFAULT_PLUGINS_OPTION_NAME. */
  String DEFAULT_PLUGINS_OPTION_NAME = "--plugins";

+  /** The constant DEFAULT_CONTINUE_ON_PLUGIN_ERROR_OPTION_NAME. */
+  String DEFAULT_CONTINUE_ON_PLUGIN_ERROR_OPTION_NAME = "--plugin-continue-on-error";
+
  /** The constant DEFAULT_PLUGINS_EXTERNAL_ENABLED_OPTION_NAME. */
  String DEFAULT_PLUGINS_EXTERNAL_ENABLED_OPTION_NAME = "--Xplugins-external-enabled";

--- a/besu/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/cli/options/stable/PluginsConfigurationOptions.java
+++ b/besu/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/cli/options/stable/PluginsConfigurationOptions.java
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 */
 package org.hyperledger.besu.cli.options.stable;

+import static org.hyperledger.besu.cli.DefaultCommandValues.DEFAULT_CONTINUE_ON_PLUGIN_ERROR_OPTION_NAME;
 import static org.hyperledger.besu.cli.DefaultCommandValues.DEFAULT_PLUGINS_EXTERNAL_ENABLED_OPTION_NAME;
 import static org.hyperledger.besu.cli.DefaultCommandValues.DEFAULT_PLUGINS_OPTION_NAME;

@@ -27,7 +28,7 @@ import java.util.List;

 import picocli.CommandLine;

-/** The Plugins Options options. */
+/** The Plugins options. */
 public class PluginsConfigurationOptions implements CLIOptions<PluginConfiguration> {

  @CommandLine.Option(
@@ -44,9 +45,17 @@ public class PluginsConfigurationOptions implements CLIOptions<PluginConfigurati
      split = ",",
      hidden = true,
      converter = PluginInfoConverter.class,
-      arity = "1..*")
+      arity = "1")
  private List<PluginInfo> plugins;

+  @CommandLine.Option(
+      names = {DEFAULT_CONTINUE_ON_PLUGIN_ERROR_OPTION_NAME},
+      description =
+          "Allow Besu startup even if any plugins fail to initialize correctly (default: ${DEFAULT-VALUE})",
+      defaultValue = "false",
+      arity = "1")
+  private final Boolean continueOnPluginError = false;
+
  /** Default Constructor. */
  public PluginsConfigurationOptions() {}

@@ -55,6 +64,7 @@ public class PluginsConfigurationOptions implements CLIOptions<PluginConfigurati
    return new PluginConfiguration.Builder()
        .externalPluginsEnabled(externalPluginsEnabled)
        .requestedPlugins(plugins)
+        .continueOnPluginError(continueOnPluginError)
        .build();
  }

@@ -66,10 +76,15 @@ public class PluginsConfigurationOptions implements CLIOptions<PluginConfigurati
  public void validate(final CommandLine commandLine) {
    String errorMessage =
        String.format(
-            "%s option can only be used when %s is true",
-            DEFAULT_PLUGINS_OPTION_NAME, DEFAULT_PLUGINS_EXTERNAL_ENABLED_OPTION_NAME);
+            "%s and %s option can only be used when %s is true",
+            DEFAULT_PLUGINS_OPTION_NAME,
+            DEFAULT_CONTINUE_ON_PLUGIN_ERROR_OPTION_NAME,
+            DEFAULT_PLUGINS_EXTERNAL_ENABLED_OPTION_NAME);
    CommandLineUtils.failIfOptionDoesntMeetRequirement(
-        commandLine, errorMessage, externalPluginsEnabled, List.of(DEFAULT_PLUGINS_OPTION_NAME));
+        commandLine,
+        errorMessage,
+        externalPluginsEnabled,
+        List.of(DEFAULT_PLUGINS_OPTION_NAME, DEFAULT_CONTINUE_ON_PLUGIN_ERROR_OPTION_NAME));
  }

  @Override
@@ -92,9 +107,14 @@ public class PluginsConfigurationOptions implements CLIOptions<PluginConfigurati
        CommandLineUtils.getOptionValueOrDefault(
            commandLine, DEFAULT_PLUGINS_EXTERNAL_ENABLED_OPTION_NAME, Boolean::parseBoolean);

+    boolean continueOnPluginError =
+        CommandLineUtils.getOptionValueOrDefault(
+            commandLine, DEFAULT_CONTINUE_ON_PLUGIN_ERROR_OPTION_NAME, Boolean::parseBoolean);
+
    return new PluginConfiguration.Builder()
        .requestedPlugins(plugins)
        .externalPluginsEnabled(externalPluginsEnabled)
+        .continueOnPluginError(continueOnPluginError)
        .build();
  }
 }
--- a/besu/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/services/BesuPluginContextImpl.java
+++ b/besu/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/services/BesuPluginContextImpl.java
@@ -56,6 +56,8 @@ public class BesuPluginContextImpl implements BesuContext, PluginVersionsProvide
  private enum Lifecycle {
    /** Uninitialized lifecycle. */
    UNINITIALIZED,
+    /** Initialized lifecycle. */
+    INITIALIZED,
    /** Registering lifecycle. */
    REGISTERING,
    /** Registered lifecycle. */
@@ -83,6 +85,7 @@ public class BesuPluginContextImpl implements BesuContext, PluginVersionsProvide
  private final List<BesuPlugin> registeredPlugins = new ArrayList<>();

  private final List<String> pluginVersions = new ArrayList<>();
+  private PluginConfiguration config;

  /** Instantiates a new Besu plugin context. */
  public BesuPluginContextImpl() {}
@@ -116,19 +119,30 @@ public class BesuPluginContextImpl implements BesuContext, PluginVersionsProvide
    return StreamSupport.stream(serviceLoader.spliterator(), false).toList();
  }

+  /**
+   * Initializes the plugin context with the provided {@link PluginConfiguration}.
+   *
+   * @param config the plugin configuration
+   * @throws IllegalStateException if the system is not in the UNINITIALIZED state.
+   */
+  public void initialize(final PluginConfiguration config) {
+    checkState(
+        state == Lifecycle.UNINITIALIZED,
+        "Besu plugins have already been initialized. Cannot register additional plugins.");
+    this.config = config;
+    state = Lifecycle.INITIALIZED;
+  }
+
  /**
   * Registers plugins based on the provided {@link PluginConfiguration}. This method finds plugins
   * according to the configuration settings, filters them if necessary and then registers the
   * filtered or found plugins
   *
-   * @param config The configuration settings used to find and filter plugins for registration. The
-   *     configuration includes the plugin directory and any configured plugin identifiers if
-   *     applicable.
   * @throws IllegalStateException if the system is not in the UNINITIALIZED state.
   */
-  public void registerPlugins(final PluginConfiguration config) {
+  public void registerPlugins() {
    checkState(
-        state == Lifecycle.UNINITIALIZED,
+        state == Lifecycle.INITIALIZED,
        "Besu plugins have already been registered. Cannot register additional plugins.");
    state = Lifecycle.REGISTERING;

@@ -192,14 +206,18 @@ public class BesuPluginContextImpl implements BesuContext, PluginVersionsProvide
  private boolean registerPlugin(final BesuPlugin plugin) {
    try {
      plugin.register(this);
-      LOG.info("Registered plugin of type {}.", plugin.getClass().getName());
      pluginVersions.add(plugin.getVersion());
+      LOG.info("Registered plugin of type {}.", plugin.getClass().getName());
    } catch (final Exception e) {
-      LOG.error(
-          "Error registering plugin of type "
-              + plugin.getClass().getName()
-              + ", start and stop will not be called.",
-          e);
+      if (config.isContinueOnPluginError()) {
+        LOG.error(
+            "Error registering plugin of type {}, start and stop will not be called.",
+            plugin.getClass().getName(),
+            e);
+      } else {
+        throw new RuntimeException(
+            "Error registering plugin of type " + plugin.getClass().getName(), e);
+      }
      return false;
    }
    return true;
@@ -223,15 +241,20 @@ public class BesuPluginContextImpl implements BesuContext, PluginVersionsProvide
        LOG.debug(
            "beforeExternalServices called on plugin of type {}.", plugin.getClass().getName());
      } catch (final Exception e) {
-        LOG.error(
-            "Error calling `beforeExternalServices` on plugin of type "
-                + plugin.getClass().getName()
-                + ", stop will not be called.",
-            e);
-        pluginsIterator.remove();
+        if (config.isContinueOnPluginError()) {
+          LOG.error(
+              "Error calling `beforeExternalServices` on plugin of type {}, start will not be called.",
+              plugin.getClass().getName(),
+              e);
+          pluginsIterator.remove();
+        } else {
+          throw new RuntimeException(
+              "Error calling `beforeExternalServices` on plugin of type "
+                  + plugin.getClass().getName(),
+              e);
+        }
      }
    }
-
    LOG.debug("Plugin startup complete.");
    state = Lifecycle.BEFORE_EXTERNAL_SERVICES_FINISHED;
  }
@@ -253,12 +276,16 @@ public class BesuPluginContextImpl implements BesuContext, PluginVersionsProvide
        plugin.start();
        LOG.debug("Started plugin of type {}.", plugin.getClass().getName());
      } catch (final Exception e) {
-        LOG.error(
-            "Error starting plugin of type "
-                + plugin.getClass().getName()
-                + ", stop will not be called.",
-            e);
-        pluginsIterator.remove();
+        if (config.isContinueOnPluginError()) {
+          LOG.error(
+              "Error starting plugin of type {}, stop will not be called.",
+              plugin.getClass().getName(),
+              e);
+          pluginsIterator.remove();
+        } else {
+          throw new RuntimeException(
+              "Error starting plugin of type " + plugin.getClass().getName(), e);
+        }
      }
    }

@@ -279,8 +306,20 @@ public class BesuPluginContextImpl implements BesuContext, PluginVersionsProvide
      final BesuPlugin plugin = pluginsIterator.next();
      try {
        plugin.afterExternalServicePostMainLoop();
-      } finally {
-        pluginsIterator.remove();
+      } catch (final Exception e) {
+        if (config.isContinueOnPluginError()) {
+          LOG.error(
+              "Error calling `afterExternalServicePostMainLoop` on plugin of type "
+                  + plugin.getClass().getName()
+                  + ", stop will not be called.",
+              e);
+          pluginsIterator.remove();
+        } else {
+          throw new RuntimeException(
+              "Error calling `afterExternalServicePostMainLoop` on plugin of type "
+                  + plugin.getClass().getName(),
+              e);
+        }
      }
    }
  }
--- a/besu/src/test/java/org/hyperledger/besu/cli/PluginsOptionsTest.java
+++ b/besu/src/test/java/org/hyperledger/besu/cli/PluginsOptionsTest.java
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ public class PluginsOptionsTest extends CommandTestAbstract {
  @Test
  public void shouldParsePluginOptionForSinglePlugin() {
    parseCommand("--plugins", "pluginA");
-    verify(mockBesuPluginContext).registerPlugins(pluginConfigurationArgumentCaptor.capture());
+    verify(mockBesuPluginContext).initialize(pluginConfigurationArgumentCaptor.capture());
    assertThat(pluginConfigurationArgumentCaptor.getValue().getRequestedPlugins())
        .isEqualTo(List.of("pluginA"));
    assertThat(commandOutput.toString(UTF_8)).isEmpty();
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ public class PluginsOptionsTest extends CommandTestAbstract {
  @Test
  public void shouldParsePluginOptionForMultiplePlugins() {
    parseCommand("--plugins", "pluginA,pluginB");
-    verify(mockBesuPluginContext).registerPlugins(pluginConfigurationArgumentCaptor.capture());
+    verify(mockBesuPluginContext).initialize(pluginConfigurationArgumentCaptor.capture());
    assertThat(pluginConfigurationArgumentCaptor.getValue().getRequestedPlugins())
        .isEqualTo(List.of("pluginA", "pluginB"));

@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ public class PluginsOptionsTest extends CommandTestAbstract {
  @Test
  public void shouldNotUsePluginOptionWhenNoPluginsSpecified() {
    parseCommand();
-    verify(mockBesuPluginContext).registerPlugins(pluginConfigurationArgumentCaptor.capture());
+    verify(mockBesuPluginContext).initialize(pluginConfigurationArgumentCaptor.capture());
    assertThat(pluginConfigurationArgumentCaptor.getValue().getRequestedPlugins())
        .isEqualTo(List.of());
    assertThat(commandOutput.toString(UTF_8)).isEmpty();
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ public class PluginsOptionsTest extends CommandTestAbstract {
  @Test
  public void shouldNotParseAnyPluginsWhenPluginOptionIsEmpty() {
    parseCommand("--plugins", "");
-    verify(mockBesuPluginContext).registerPlugins(pluginConfigurationArgumentCaptor.capture());
+    verify(mockBesuPluginContext).initialize(pluginConfigurationArgumentCaptor.capture());
    assertThat(pluginConfigurationArgumentCaptor.getValue().getRequestedPlugins())
        .isEqualTo(List.of());
    assertThat(commandOutput.toString(UTF_8)).isEmpty();
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ public class PluginsOptionsTest extends CommandTestAbstract {
  @Test
  public void shouldParsePluginsExternalEnabledOptionWhenFalse() {
    parseCommand("--Xplugins-external-enabled=false");
-    verify(mockBesuPluginContext).registerPlugins(pluginConfigurationArgumentCaptor.capture());
+    verify(mockBesuPluginContext).initialize(pluginConfigurationArgumentCaptor.capture());

    assertThat(pluginConfigurationArgumentCaptor.getValue().isExternalPluginsEnabled())
        .isEqualTo(false);
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ public class PluginsOptionsTest extends CommandTestAbstract {
  @Test
  public void shouldParsePluginsExternalEnabledOptionWhenTrue() {
    parseCommand("--Xplugins-external-enabled=true");
-    verify(mockBesuPluginContext).registerPlugins(pluginConfigurationArgumentCaptor.capture());
+    verify(mockBesuPluginContext).initialize(pluginConfigurationArgumentCaptor.capture());

    assertThat(pluginConfigurationArgumentCaptor.getValue().isExternalPluginsEnabled())
        .isEqualTo(true);
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ public class PluginsOptionsTest extends CommandTestAbstract {
  @Test
  public void shouldEnablePluginsExternalByDefault() {
    parseCommand();
-    verify(mockBesuPluginContext).registerPlugins(pluginConfigurationArgumentCaptor.capture());
+    verify(mockBesuPluginContext).initialize(pluginConfigurationArgumentCaptor.capture());
    assertThat(pluginConfigurationArgumentCaptor.getValue().isExternalPluginsEnabled())
        .isEqualTo(true);

@@ -109,10 +109,43 @@ public class PluginsOptionsTest extends CommandTestAbstract {
  @Test
  public void shouldFailWhenPluginsIsDisabledAndPluginsExplicitlyRequested() {
    parseCommand("--Xplugins-external-enabled=false", "--plugins", "pluginA");
-    verify(mockBesuPluginContext).registerPlugins(pluginConfigurationArgumentCaptor.capture());

    assertThat(commandOutput.toString(UTF_8)).isEmpty();
    assertThat(commandErrorOutput.toString(UTF_8))
-        .contains("--plugins option can only be used when --Xplugins-external-enabled is true");
+        .contains(
+            "--plugins and --plugin-continue-on-error option can only be used when --Xplugins-external-enabled is true");
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  public void shouldHaveContinueOnErrorFalseByDefault() {
+    parseCommand();
+    verify(mockBesuPluginContext).initialize(pluginConfigurationArgumentCaptor.capture());
+    assertThat(pluginConfigurationArgumentCaptor.getValue().isContinueOnPluginError())
+        .isEqualTo(false);
+
+    assertThat(commandOutput.toString(UTF_8)).isEmpty();
+    assertThat(commandErrorOutput.toString(UTF_8)).isEmpty();
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  public void shouldUseContinueOnErrorWhenTrue() {
+    parseCommand("--plugin-continue-on-error=true");
+    verify(mockBesuPluginContext).initialize(pluginConfigurationArgumentCaptor.capture());
+
+    assertThat(pluginConfigurationArgumentCaptor.getValue().isContinueOnPluginError())
+        .isEqualTo(true);
+
+    assertThat(commandOutput.toString(UTF_8)).isEmpty();
+    assertThat(commandErrorOutput.toString(UTF_8)).isEmpty();
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  public void shouldFailWhenPluginsIsDisabledAnHaltOnErrorTrue() {
+    parseCommand("--Xplugins-external-enabled=false", "--plugin-continue-on-error=true");
+
+    assertThat(commandOutput.toString(UTF_8)).isEmpty();
+    assertThat(commandErrorOutput.toString(UTF_8))
+        .contains(
+            "--plugins and --plugin-continue-on-error option can only be used when --Xplugins-external-enabled is true");
  }
 }
--- a/besu/src/test/resources/everything_config.toml
+++ b/besu/src/test/resources/everything_config.toml
@@ -247,4 +247,5 @@ Xevm-jumpdest-cache-weight-kb=32000

 # plugins
 Xplugins-external-enabled=true
-plugins=["none"]
+plugins=["none"]
+plugin-continue-on-error=false
--- a/ethereum/core/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/ethereum/core/plugins/PluginConfiguration.java
+++ b/ethereum/core/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/ethereum/core/plugins/PluginConfiguration.java
@@ -23,14 +23,17 @@ public class PluginConfiguration {
  private final List<PluginInfo> requestedPlugins;
  private final Path pluginsDir;
  private final boolean externalPluginsEnabled;
+  private final boolean continueOnPluginError;

  public PluginConfiguration(
      final List<PluginInfo> requestedPlugins,
      final Path pluginsDir,
-      final boolean externalPluginsEnabled) {
+      final boolean externalPluginsEnabled,
+      final boolean continueOnPluginError) {
    this.requestedPlugins = requestedPlugins;
    this.pluginsDir = pluginsDir;
    this.externalPluginsEnabled = externalPluginsEnabled;
+    this.continueOnPluginError = continueOnPluginError;
  }

  public List<String> getRequestedPlugins() {
@@ -47,6 +50,10 @@ public class PluginConfiguration {
    return externalPluginsEnabled;
  }

+  public boolean isContinueOnPluginError() {
+    return continueOnPluginError;
+  }
+
  public static Path defaultPluginsDir() {
    String pluginsDirProperty = System.getProperty("besu.plugins.dir");
    return pluginsDirProperty == null
@@ -62,6 +69,7 @@ public class PluginConfiguration {
    private List<PluginInfo> requestedPlugins;
    private Path pluginsDir;
    private boolean externalPluginsEnabled = true;
+    private boolean continueOnPluginError = false;

    public Builder requestedPlugins(final List<PluginInfo> requestedPlugins) {
      this.requestedPlugins = requestedPlugins;
@@ -78,11 +86,17 @@ public class PluginConfiguration {
      return this;
    }

+    public Builder continueOnPluginError(final boolean continueOnPluginError) {
+      this.continueOnPluginError = continueOnPluginError;
+      return this;
+    }
+
    public PluginConfiguration build() {
      if (pluginsDir == null) {
        pluginsDir = PluginConfiguration.defaultPluginsDir();
      }
-      return new PluginConfiguration(requestedPlugins, pluginsDir, externalPluginsEnabled);
+      return new PluginConfiguration(
+          requestedPlugins, pluginsDir, externalPluginsEnabled, continueOnPluginError);
    }
  }
 }